All Around Robin Hood's Barn

Is it time for a chatty post yet? You have no idea how difficult it is for me to let my words be few. If I were talking about politics, I'd fail. Trust me. Blessed you! I am not talking about politics...today. I'm chatting about chilly mornings, basil harvesting, window washing, The Ponderosa, and missing John, in that order.

~the woodsmoke smells so good~

My! The mornings have become chilly. I check my weather app every night deciding if I need to cover flowers or bring them in. Some nights, like last night, I take my chances as the temps did not go below 50°F. 

The photo above is of my sister and her husband's wood boiler shed. It's also my answer to prayer as I have so many papers that need destroying. I save as many of John's papers as I can, but bills and receipts saved from the beginning of time come here. Tomorrow, I hope to share more of the projects going on at Kim's so come back if you were one of those who wished to see more after the post on her new pantry.

~flowers going strong~
A few weeks ago I was reading this post at Mama's Mercantile where she showed how she was drying basil. Now I have had lots and lots of basil and have already mentioned basil bombs. I didn't want to waste these herbs that have blessed me by growing prolifically all summer and fall long. 

The basil has been cut way back.






The lunch bags finally purchased.







The basil got a nice bath.

The  holes got punched.





The basil drying





and drying...

Not sure how much I'll get and can't remember how long it must dry... Must check the link.

Over the weekend, I tackled the windows, which has always been a joint venture with John on the outside and me on the inside. We could usually turn a tedious job into a fun time. With no one to grin at through the glass, it was back to tedious.

Well I did grin at the camera straps looking like suspenders. 

My time at The Ponderosa is drawing to a close. Mary (John's sister) and I pushed hard last week because I had rented a dumpster. We had it for a week. On the last night that it would be there, a friend of Mary's climbed up into the loft to haul out a twin mattress set. It was all very exciting. Alas, Mary took a tumble from the third step of the ladder and now has a compression fracture in her spine. Please pray for her. She is an active gal and does not much like being laid up. We are grateful that it is not worse, but it is a rough way to end the time there. 

My grandson spent some time with me a week ago. It's always good to have someone here. He found no cookies in the cookie can. Never good. He told me very honestly that he didn't like my house very much now that John isn't here. Can't argue with that. I don't either. It isn't the same and can never be again. Then he asked me the question that most people avoid, "So how is it here for you all alone?"  
I hope that I didn't look too startled. I told him that I do get lonely, but that even when I am feeling lonely, I am not really alone because God is with me and, when I feel sad, I ask Him to help me and He does. He nodded his head thoughtfully and seemed satisfied with the answer. That may be too simplistic, but is true. I know that my grieving time is coming through the long, cold winter when I have time to devote to that work, which is one of the reasons why you have seen so much of me lately. I am trying to hold my bloggy footprint so that I have something else to focus on besides pain and loss.  

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for a few pics from Kim's place. Wonder if she has a name for her home...  Do you have a name for your home? What is it?